~ A lighter look at Fascinating People in Out of the Ordinary Lives

Category Archives: Other

You know how when you’re the President of this International Women’s Club in England, and you’re asked to introduce a REAL Lord, who will graciously say a few words to your group after you have all enjoyed a private luncheon in a fancy marquee on the grounds of his centuries old family estate — where you all now sit after a stunning private tour of his castle – you know the one, it’s also featured in a hit TV series? And just as you, the President, are mid- introduction of this elegant if appropriately shy aristocrat, you find yourself ever so slightly relieved having got through the correct pronunciation of his name (whew!) so you let your guard down during your 2nd and final sentence because honestly how hard can this be, all you’re going to say is something like, ‘What a great honor and a privilege it is to have Lord So-n-So here to say a few words to us about his exquisite family home, Such-n-Such Castle’…

… but

…Instead of saying that, words exit your mouth that have no relationship whatsoever to the grammar you actually learned in school, and worse, might even have sounded as if you were honored to welcome Lord So-n-So to YOUR family home??

I CAN’T WAIT to tell you about the FAB-U-LOUS party I talked my way into in London. I know my blog normally features Ordinary people in out of the ordinary lives, but when you see with whom I’ve been rubbing shoulders you’ll understand why I couldn’t resist…

TAKE A LOOK!!!

That’s what I’m talking about! Woo-Hoo!!

Me and Will Smith!?! Just hanging out.

Do I look happy or what? I think he must’ve just turned away from the camera here, but we were chatting.

Well, I think I did most of the talking but he is every bit as funny in person as he is on camera.

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Who out there can tell me who this hunk is? Like EVERYONE can, right?

Georgio Clunacius—I call him by his Roman name. (sound of HDYGT’s annoyingly high pitched giggle)

HDYGT’s Husband (poking his head over her shoulder as she types): It looks like he wants you to let go of his arm.

HDYGT: He does not! He was just stunned because I planted a big kiss on his cheek. He was speechless. You can see he’s breaking into a smile.

Husband (who will not leave her alone to finish this blog): Where did you say you were again? I just can’t believe you met all these people.

My next Guest Star goes by many titles, not all of which he’s willing to repeat in public.

I found him to be a humble and wise man whose area of expertise is very near and dear to my heart— in fact I’d say it’s my Holy Grail—my Golden Calf. Literally.

I’m proud to report that in the presence of all that wealth, I was able to maintain the utmost professionalism. I searched deep into my soul and saw profound truths. Truths like, “Man I wish I were rich!”

I could tell my reverential attitude made an impression on my Guest Star, too…

HDYGT: Welcome to How Did You Get There, Mr. Reed, please tell us what you do for a living?

Tom Reed: Well, I guess the broad term would be Sales… I am a Financial Advisor, Stockbroker, Customers man…those are a few of my epitaphs. But I also answer to names not repeatable in polite company. (smiles)

HDYG: Really? That sounds exciting, what other names?

Tom Reed: That was a joke…remember when working with someone’s money, oftentimes you are working with the nearest and dearest thing to their hearts.

HDYG: It’s amazing to hear you say that, because money has always been the dearest thing to my heart! Wow, it’s as if you can read into my soul. Are you trained in mysterious Asian arts?

Tom Reed: Let me put it this way: I even love them when the markets are sinking along with their money, at which occasion my love is not always reciprocated. (chuckles)

HDYG: I see. Your job on earth is to not always endow others with riches, but on rare occasions to teach us how to appreciate things other than money. (HDYGT bows head respectfully)

Tom Reed: (wonders what kind of incense HDYGT’s been smoking)

HDYG: What special qualities have prepared you for this life of enriching others?

Tom Reed: My epidermis, while having a strong resemblance to normal skin, is actually a suit of case hardened metal…very similar to what knights wore in medieval Europe. This is helpful when financial markets are sinking.

HDYG: I knew it! You transform into a warrior to fight for your flock. Lo, I have heard tell of this.

Tom Reed: (looks pleadingly for his secretary to remove this nut job, but she’s snuck off)

HDYG: What innate qualities, or skills have you cultivated which help in your success?

Tom Reed: Finally—a real question. Initially, I was drawn into financial asset management because I was a risk taker. What better casino than the New York Stock Exchange? The only drawback, they didn’t serve drinks. (smiles)

HDYG: (nods with utmost solemnity)

Tom Reed: (rolls eyes) After a scary initiation, I became adept at analysing people. Prior to offering advice, I wanted to understand them…their marital status, age, present and future financial needs, earnings potential, emotional ability to accept risk, and many other pertinent pieces of information. Combine that challenge with my enjoyment of people, and I was a happy boy.

HDYG: I see. Your early youth was like that of every great warrior, filled with fiery challenges designed to test you, after which you came out victorious!

Tom Reed: Before that I received my Masters Degree in International Relations…

HDYG: (can’t believe the similarities) I have international relatives!! My brother has a chiguagua!!

Tom Reed: (speaks even more quickly, trying to finish this interview) …prior to which I was a U.S. Navy Intelligence Officer and Aerial Navigator…and before that I was a (totally) irresponsible college boy dedicated to the pursuit of girls and beer.

HDYG: Wow! Such a rich path you have chosen, filled with curves and bends, to lead you where you are today.

Tom Reed: (scratches head) Which path do you mean? The one I followed as an irresponsible college boy? No, I don’t know exactly what led me where I am today…part serendipity and part…serendipity.

HDYG: What life lessons do you wish to impart?

Tom Reed: I think most of us don’t “plan” our vocation. If we’re interested in biology, we might wind up in medicine or research, and if we’re mechanically inclined, we’ll probably become engineers, architects, contractors, etc. But precisely where we’ll end up?? Who knows?

HDYG: That’s it? (deflated)

Tom Reed: Oh, All right!! (sweeping gesture) I have drifted along on life’s tides. Somehow, I washed up where I am today. (signals his secretary, who’s back from cigarette break, that the interview is over)

Robin: Essentially since high school, but professionally for 28 years. I worked as a sales rep throughout college, for a Lone Star Beerand Canada Drydistributor in Texas. Later, I joined Canada Dry USA but I was very unhappy. It wasn’t my joy. When Canada Dry sponsored the US Olympic divers at a prelim meet in Austin, I volunteered to go. That week showed me that the entertainment and promotional aspect of marketing was my real talent.

HDYGT: (totally impressed) Amazing what glistening bodies will do for a girl.

Robin: (chokes on her water) Sorry!?

HDYGT: (totally serious) What do you like most about your work? The half nekkid men?

Robin: (can’t believe HDYGT’s serious) Um, well, I enjoy being part of something special that touches many lives. But I’m an anonymous producer of sorts. I am a sampler-plate girl. I’d rather be good at several things, than be the best at just one.

HDYGT: (makes air quotes) Did you get to “sample” any of those Olympic divers?

Robin: What?

HDYGT: (continues air quotes) They sure are “something special”! Were they some of the “lives you touched”?

Robin: No!! I mean–sort of– but not in that way!

HDYGT: (totally bummed) Guess the job doesn’t have as many “perks” as I thought.

Robin: (has never seen a “real person” make this many air quotes) Look, if your questions aren’t more professional I’m going to have to—

HDYGT: (insulted Robin referred to HDYGT’s “real personhood” in air quotes her last thought bubble) What quality, skill, or both do you feel makes you particularly suited to Marketing / PR / Special Events?

Robin: I learned that I do not think in a linear fashion, so producing complicated projects with many moving parts is one of my specialties. It’s like cooking a fabulous meal for friends. You have a lot of pots on the stove at once, but everything is completed and served hot at the right time. Major projects take a big picture approach, and just like a meal plan, they have different ingredients for each recipe.

HDYGT: Wow. I burn everything.

Robin: I can tell.

HDYGT: Is this Producing Major Events like a 5 Star Chef philosophy something you have developed on the job or is it innate?

Robin: The initial instinct is innate, but each experience has prepped me for the next one. For example, one job taught me how to write copyfor radio spots; another how to produce TV commercials and even a TV show. Having learned multiple skills over the years, as well as developing a huge network of friends and resources, has enabled me to raise the money for, produce, market and publicize a new Earth Day Festival in Houston w/in 3 ½ months. I could not have done this successfully without my prior experiences and the resources gained from those experiences. Each leads to the next. I never stop learning.

HDYGT: Where have you worked?

Robin: I spent 10 years in the beer and soft drink business, plus stints running the marketing for the Houston Zoo, the Houston Public Library’scommunication division, and Academy Sports + Outdoors, a major regional sporting goods retailer. In between these positions I consult—which is what gets me in trouble. I enjoy being self-employed but my clients always try to hire me full time.

HDYGT: Which of your previous positions particularly stands out?

Robin: I loved my job heading up advertising and PR for Houston’s Budweiser distributorduring my 20s. I made a huge impact on, and even initiated many of Houston’s entertainment events, some of which are traditions still going today. I’m very proud of that contribution, and gained confidence from the experience, not to mention I was a great date with access tickets to anything and everything! It was fun to be plugged in to “what’s happening” in Houston.

HDYGT: For example?

Robin: I still have my original demo cassette tape of a then unknown Country and Western performer. It was part of my job to make sure this new guy, whom we at Budweiser had hired for our big July 4th Concert, got some air play during the 2-3 months before the concert. So I dropped off his tape at one of our biggest C&W radio stations, KIKK. He ended up being so popular nationally that in six months’ time he won Country Music’s Horizon Award, for the year’s best newcomer. His star continued to shine and our Budweiser distributor could no longer touch him locally. He’s Clint Black.

HDYGT: Clint Black?! Now that’s what I call “something special”! Did you get to “touch—“

Robin: NO!!

HDYGT: Just asking…

Robin: Another really keen role was working for the Houston Zoo in my 40s. I loved being close to animals, feeding and touching these exotic beauties. I was truly happy. Even though work was a labour of love, I was around nature every day. People enjoyed the zoo. It was a happy product to promote.

HDYGT: And finally, Robin, any life experiences you’d like to share?

Robin: Use your common sense. Marketing is not brain surgery. Most parts of it should come naturally. Like my PR mentor once explained to me, “PR is just stamps and envelopes. It is a formula like any other, when you have the right instinct. How you do anything is how you do everything. Just do the work.”

Original interview below posted June 2010. By June 2011 John Locke has become the1st self-published author to sell a million eBooks on Amazon Kindle, and a Best Selling author on the Official Website of New York Times.

Can I pick ’em or what??

“If Dean Koontz collaborated with Alfred Hitchcock at the circus, [Saving Rachel] would be their brain child.” —Dusty Mills, Vintage DM Book Reviews

(originally published June 2010)

Today’s Guest Star, author of the fast paced Donovan Creed crime novels, owns up to leading a double life! Yes, I was shocked, but I refused to accept less than the raw truth…

HDYGT: Welcome John Locke, please tell us what you do for a living?

John Locke: When I’m not writing the Donovan Creed novels I’m a private investor.

HDYGT: A private investigator who writes crime novels! Shocking!!

(screechy music)

John Locke: Not investigator—investor. I build or buy shopping centers and manage them for my own portfolio.

HDYGT: (jaw drops) You buy the entire shopping center!? My husband complains when I buy out one measly shop.

John Locke: Well… maybe you need to see the bigger picture.

HDYGT: That’s exactly what I said when he yelled about my 10 ft ‘Screaming Daffodils’ painting!

(more screechy music)

John Locke: (tries not to imagine daffodil painting, but can’t shake it)

HDYGT: What do you like most about being a Private “I”?

John Locke: People think it’s prestigious, but in reality I’m getting big bucks to do what a monkey could do.

HDYGT: This monkey – is he for sale?

John Locke: Excuse me?

HDYGT: I assume he’ll work for peanuts.

John Locke: What monkey?

HDYGT: (winks) Right, our little secret. So what do you think is the key to your brilliant success – other than the monkey?

John Locke: Watch it – I said no monkey business!

HDYGT: Oops, my bad. I won’t bring him up again! How about: What skill set or unique abilities do you think have led to your conquering the concrete jungle?

John Locke: (eyes narrow) My ability to instantly recognize a deal as being good or bad. If only I had the same ability with regard to the interviews I accept.

HDYGT: Is this ability instinctive or something you’ve EVOLVED into over time?

John Locke: (shrugs) To be successful in my business you have to make more mistakes than the competition, in a shorter period of time.

HDYGT: Hey – I’m good at that!

John Locke: Of course it helps if you actually LEARN from those mistakes…

HDYGT: (baffled by last statement, but shakes it off) What did you do before managing your own portfolio?

John Locke: I owned a life insurance company.

HDYGT: How did you get into life insurance?

John Locke: I quit college with one week to go before graduation in order to sell insurance door-to-door on straight commission. By age 28 I was one of the top insurance sales people in the world. By age 35 I bought my own life insurance company and appointed nearly 7,000 agents in 34 states.

HDYGT: (whistles) Wow. And now you have written a series of page-turner crime novels – or “Button-pushers”, as new Kindle owners say. Any other memorable experiences?

John Locke: I sang in a rock and roll band for ten years. I became quite adept at dodging ice cubes and the miniature fruit people pulled out of their cocktails and hurled at me.

HDYGT: I find miniature fruit dodging is a handy way to practise my fast manoeuvre skills, and reflexes.

John Locke: (embarrassed for HDYGT as she re-enactments this) One summer I loaded hundred-pound bags of sugar on pallets in a warehouse until the crew boss went nuts and attacked me with a broken bottle.

HDYGT: Really? What else?

John Locke: (finds HDYGT’s enthusiasm a tad creepy) I tarred roofs in Louisiana, and did fine until the day I got my shoe stuck on a roof and a crew member attacked me with an axe. As memorable experiences go, these come to mind.

HDYGT: Sounds like the Stanislavsky method of experiencing what your characters experience, only for writers. Say–would you mind teaching me? I’m sure I have an axe or a broken bottle in here…(rummages through handbag)

John Locke: (looks alarmed)

HDYGT: While I’m looking for it, how about sharing with our readers your words to live by?

John Locke: Sure: Learn to be nimble on your feet.

HDYGT: Found it! (looks around) John? …John? (Melon balls and pineapple wedges catapult through the air hitting HDYGT with deft precision) There you are! As always, Thank You For Playing!!

In John Locke’s career journey from rock and roll singer—to door-to-door salesman—to the creation of more than a dozen multimillion dollar companies, he has encountered a wellspring of bizarre people from which to craft his unique characters. He is the author of four fiction books, Lethal People, Lethal Experiment, Saving Rachel and Now & Then – JUST OUT; and two nonfiction books, Dynasty in the Making and Qualities of Character. He lives in Kentucky, where he is currently at work on a novel titled Wish List.

Inkwell Writers Workshop founder Vanessa O’Loughlin has just launched a brand new website for Irish writing scene, with the most up to date writing tips by best selling Irish authors. I’m very excited to be a contributing writer to this wonderful new site, will keep you posted.

60 Second Psych: Christie Nicholson interviews David Allen, best-selling author of Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, on how to make and keep goals.

A few tips that gave me heart:

Don’t make a short list. Make 45, or 100 goals, and see which ones stick around. It can be anything from bench pressing more, to feeling happier when you wake up in the morning…

It’s easier to get there by doing it wrong, than by doing nothing. Standing still takes more energy than going the wrong way and turning around.

Lighten up!! We almost never achieve our goals, but setting them helps us envision what we want to create. Because as you get 1/2 way there your goal will change. You have more information than you did before you started, and you may realize THAT over there is what you REALLY want.

The BEST thing to do Right Now? At the end of the year?

1. List what you DID accomplish this past year.

No one’s invited me over to move their couch.

Nicole Kidman isn’t suing me for wardrobe copyright infringement

I’ve supported countless authors… fiscally.

My new novel: Bart Simpson-Potter – is about an orphan, who thanks to being an amazing wizard stays 11 yrs. old for the rest of his life. And he’s yellow.

2. CLEAN HOUSE – tie up the loose ends, toss out what goals didn’t suit, finish up what’s almost there.

3. Set new 51% goals, ones that you’re 51% sure you can reach. Don’t stretch the rubber band too far, or it’ll break.

4. And Most importantly – KEEP SETTING GOALS. It will keep you focused on what you enjoy.

“The country’s 24-hour, political pundit perpetual panic conflictinator did not cause our problems, but its existence makes solving them that much harder. The press can hold its magnifying glass up to our problems, bringing them into focus, illuminating issues heretofore unseen. Or they can use that magnifying glass to light ants on fire, and then perhaps host a week of shows on the dangerous, unexpected flaming ants epidemic. If we amplify everything, we hear nothing.”

“…the image of Americans that is reflected back to us by our political and media process is false. It is us, through a funhouse mirror–and not the good kind that makes you look slim in the waist, and maybe taller, but the kind where you have a giant forehead, and an ass shaped like a month-old pumpkin, and one eyeball. So why would we work together? Why would you reach across the aisle, to a pumpkin-assed forehead eyeball monster? If the picture of us were true, of course our inability to solve problems would actually be quite sane and reasonable–why would you work with Marxists actively subverting our Constitution, and homophobes who see no one’s humanity but their own?”

“But this is us. [points to video of traffic merging together to go into a tunnel] Every one of the cars that you see is filled with individuals of strong belief, and principles they hold dear–often principles and beliefs in direct opposition to their fellow travelers’. And yet, these millions of cars must somehow find a way to squeeze, one by one, into a mile-long, 30-foot-wide tunnel, carved underneath a mighty river.’ And they do it, concession by concession: you go, then I’ll go. You go, then I’ll go. You go, then I’ll go. ‘Oh my God–is that an NRA sticker on your car?’ ‘Is that an Obama sticker on your car?’ It’s okay–you go, then I go.”

HDYGT: (sits up, beams) You like it? Some things never go out of style.

André Girod: Yes! Thank God for that. (adjusts his thick black sunglasses, pushes up the sleeves on his black turtle neck, and slants his beret)

HDYGT: So how were your foreign exchange classes different than the ones we hear of today?

André Girod: Instead of exchanging one student at a time, we exchanged the entire class, for a month.

HDYGT: I get hassled for trying to exchange a candy bar I don’t like.

André Girod: Remember, in the early 70s these foreign exchange programs had never been done before. Especially transporting whole classes of French fifth graders to America to stay in an elementary school, and likewise take American fifth graders to France. Reciprocity between the schools, families and children.

HDYGT: Interesting. What did they study?

André Girod: The very first class we organized was during the summer. They learned judo, sailing, swimming, javelin throwing and much more.

HDYGT: Can I go? I’m told I’m very immature for my age.

André Girod: Well… the years after that we only exchanged classes during the winter. Skiing in France was a big hit.

HDYGT: Oh, too bad, I’m allergic to snow. Did you prefer running the French American Class to conventional teaching?

André Girod: I did enjoy conventional teaching during the first part of my career, but never enough to stay in the same school for more than 2 years. I had to change my horizons: 2 years in the USA, 2 years in Australia, 2 years in France and so on. This is the only way to refresh your teaching. Then I tired of this continuous change, so I decided to meld the two, by teaching kids about travel and living in a foreign country. This is how I got the idea to start the French American Class, which I ran until I sold it in the late 1990s.

HDYGT: What did you do before teaching?

André Girod: I worked for 11 years as a tour guide, in the 50s/60s, traveling with my backpack, which made it easy to create the French American class. I have also been an encyclopedia salesman, a waiter, ski instructor, ski school director…

André Girod: Today I host art exhibits on my property. I live in a small village in Southern France, in the Luberon Vaucluse region. I am also the Director of Culture for our city hall in the village of Lauris.

HDYGT: Many of your past students have tracked you down to thank you for so many wonderful memories of their experiences in the French-American Class. I’d like to thank you for being such a good sport and sharing your adventures with us. So, as always– Thank You For Playing!!

I’m not even going to post one photo here, lest you’re too lazy to click THIS LINK, and behold the wonders which await ye!!!

In their own words:

“Make up your own Tale based on a particular image and we will publish our favourites and link to your blog, website, myspace, photo bucket site, etc. Just send your story to: info@benjaminkanarekblog.com“

Tale of the Unexpected…

Started as an idea to tell a Classic Fairy Tale format Children’s Story, but without the classically known subject matter such as Cinderella, Wizard of Oz, Snow White, Alice in Wonderland etc… They “kind of” look familiar, but aren’t really, as they did not exist until they were created for this production. These individual images or mini synopsis’s each tell a little story of their own and we will leave it up to you the reader to interpret them in your own “Fashion” (pardon the pun).

Katie Fogarty stars in the fabulous, ferociously funny, freaky film “The 7 Tales of Katie in Kinderland” as the wonderfully witty “Wizard of Westergarten” in the County of Cormilligan (Try saying that after a few drinks).